New Rules for Clasp Competition on Skye

In a bid to increase entries, Piping Convenor Cameron MacFadyen has made significant changes to the playing requirements for the Colonel Jock MacDonald Clasp. The main one is deeming tunes from the senior lists at Oban and Inverness as eligible submissions. The competition will be held on August 5 in Portree as part of the Skye Gathering. The closing date for entries for all senior piping events is 31st May….

Scottish Pipers Professional 2025: Order of Play

President Logan Tannock has announced the draws for the Scottish Pipers Association Professional Competition to be held this Saturday, April 12, in the Piping Centre, McPhater Street, Glasgow. The competition receives considerable sponsorship from the Piobaireachd Society. The P/A Piobaireachd is from 12.30pm. The draw: John Macdonald, Ben Duncan, Darach Urquhart, Brodie Watson-Massey, Steven Leask, Angus MacPhee, James MacPetrie, Cameron May, Sarah Muir, Gordon McCready, Eireann Ianetta-Mackay, Jamie Elder, Sandy…

RT Shepherd & Sons Officially in Liquidation

The liquidation of the once world-beating bagpipe and reed manufacturers RT Shepherd & Sons has been announced. It will be a sad day for all friends and followers of the founder, P/M Bob Shepherd, who started the company in the 1970s following his Worlds-winning spell with Dysart & Dundonald Pipe Band. Bob died in 2019. The company’s chanters and reeds were played worldwide and it was responsible for some outstanding…

Piobaireachd Society Announce Recommended Set Tunes for Oban and Inverness 2026

The Music Committee of the Piobaireachd Society has recommended the following set tunes for next year’s Argyllshire Gathering and Northern Meeting: GOLD MEDAL – Four (4) tunes to be submittedThe Finger Lock* Pride of Barra *Lady MacDonald’s LamentMacDonalds Are SimplePort UrlarLament for Airds*Fare Thee Well DonaldLament for Captain Donald MacKenzie* Crunluath a mach required. SILVER MEDAL – four (4) tunes to be submittedLament for the Castle of DunyvegNameless, Hiharin dro…

Editor’s Notebook: Piobaireachd Society Conference/ Uist & Barra/ Tribute Band/ Scottish Pipers

One of the highlights at tomorrow’s Piobaireachd Society Conference will be a tune from Duncan MacGillivray. Duncan will be playing on John Macdonald, Inverness’s bagpipe (as above). It will help illustrate my talk on John Shone’s new book on Macdonald entitled ‘Life, Times and Music’. (Available this weekend on the PS webshop.) Duncan got the pipes from his father Donald. Donald was a student of Macdonald’s and the maestro gifted…